Discover the
Archimede e Leonardo
museum in Syracuse
Archimedes in Syracuse: where the journey begins
Syracuse is the city of Archimedes, one of the greatest figures in the history of science.
The Archimedes and Leonardo Museum was created from this deep connection with the city and its scientific heritage.
Through models, machines and in-depth content, the museum invites visitors to explore principles related to mechanics, balance, motion and water lifting, while showing how Archimedes’ ideas continued to influence scientific thought for centuries.
The Collection: Models, Machines and the History of Science
The collection of the Archimedes and Leonardo Museum in Syracuse includes more than 50 wooden models, offering visitors the opportunity to explore principles of mechanics, motion, balance and the transmission of forces.
The museum connects machines and ideas associated with the Archimedean tradition with studies and solutions developed by Leonardo da Vinci, offering a tangible way to explore the history of science and the evolution of mechanical thought.
By observing the models, visitors can understand principles that might otherwise seem abstract on paper, turning complex concepts into a clear and immediate visual experience.
ARCHIMEDES
Principles, machines and ideas connected with the scientific legacy of the Syracusan genius
LEONARDO DA VINCI
Models and mechanisms inspired by Leonardo’s studies and drawings
THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN TWO GENIUSES
The historical and scientific thread that reveals how ideas evolved and travelled across the centuries
From Archimedes to Leonardo: a dialogue across the centuries
Leonardo da Vinci’s presence in the museum reflects a clear historical and scientific connection.
Leonardo studied and developed ideas rooted in the Archimedean tradition, engaging with questions of statics, geometry and mechanics, as well as with inventions attributed to Archimedes.
His manuscripts contain explicit references to the Syracusan genius and his studies, revealing an interest that extended across several areas of Leonardo’s research.
This transmission of ideas between antiquity and the Renaissance is one of the museum’s most distinctive features.
Models, Machines and the History of Science
The collection includes more than 50 working wooden models, allowing visitors to explore mechanical principles, systems for transmitting motion and engineering solutions connected with the history of science.
Observing the models makes it possible to understand concepts that might otherwise remain abstract, turning the museum visit into a thoughtful and engaging cultural experience.
A Renewed Museum with a New Vision
Since 2023, the Archimedes and Leonardo Museum in Syracuse has been undergoing a major renewal process aimed at strengthening its identity, exhibition quality and cultural value.
The collection, made up of more than 50 models, has been entirely rebuilt, with particular attention to the quality of materials, the clarity of the visitor journey and the overall museum experience.
The project has been developed with the support of ArtesMechanicae, an interdisciplinary research group dedicated to the history of science and technology, supported by an international scientific committee
Learning by Understanding
The museum follows an educational approach based on a clear principle: first observe and understand, then share and reflect, and finally experiment.
Observation, understanding, sharing, reflection and experimentation guide visitors throughout the museum, creating an educational and scientific experience designed for a broad audience.
An Experience for Every Visitor
Individual Visitors
A cultural and scientific journey to explore independently, supported by interpretive panels and a multilingual digital tour that help visitors understand the models and the ideas behind them.
Family
A shared experience in which parents and accompanying adults become active participants in the visit, supported by content designed for younger visitors and by the multilingual digital tour.
Schools
Educational programmes tailored to different age groups and learning objectives, with a focus on science, mathematics, technology, mechanics and history.
Private Visits
Private guided visits available by reservation, with bilingual tours available on request.
Groups
Organised visits available by reservation, with proposals and quotations tailored to the number of participants and the specific needs of each group.
In the Heart of Ortygia, Syracuse
The museum is located in the historic centre of Syracuse, inside the Ex-retreat convent, a building dating back to the first half of the 18th century.
A visit to the museum fits naturally into a cultural itinerary through Ortygia, its history and the wider heritage of Syracuse.
Multilingual Digital Tour
The museum experience is supported by a multilingual digital tour, available in Italian, English, French, Spanish and German.
Included in the admission ticket, the service provides additional content throughout the visit and also includes subtitles, helping make the museum experience more accessible for deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors.
Credits
Graphic Design
Fabrizio Brischetti
Web Design
Fabrizio Brischetti
Allestimenti
Teatro Stabile di Catania
Comitato scientifico
Museo Archimede e Leonardo – Siracusa